Import and export of publications in Vietnam is still modest.

The scale and capacity of most publishing import enterprises are still small, and they lack connection and initiative when participating in foreign markets... This is the main reason why publishing import and export activities in Vietnam are considered to be still at a modest level.

According to statistics as of November 30, 2025, nationwide there are 28 units licensed to operate in the business of importing publications, of which 2 units specialize in importing publications, 26 units have the function of importing publications. Of which, only 19 enterprises regularly have import orders, the remaining 10 import units do not have orders and do not carry out procedures for importing publications. The total number of imported publications in 2023 - 2024 and the first 6 months of 2025: 181,728 publication titles with a quantity of 14,746,107 books. This information was given by the Department of Publishing, Printing and Distribution at the Conference summarizing the export and import of publications in 2025 held on the afternoon of December 5 in Hanoi .

The rate of people using foreign books in Vietnam is not popular.

PHOTO: TL

The Department's report also pointed out the shortcomings of the industry when participating in the world publishing market: "The market for imported publications in Vietnam is small in scale; the rate of people using foreign books is not popular; competition in distribution channels, especially e-commerce, creates unequal competition in price and distribution costs; illegal printing and copyright infringement have not been effectively prevented, leading to a situation where at times foreign enterprises do not cooperate with Vietnamese enterprises in ordering goods under contracts...".

On the other hand, the export of Vietnamese publications abroad is also said to have not had a breakthrough, currently there are only 5 enterprises regularly exporting Vietnamese publications abroad. The reason is said to be the difficulty in exploiting the output because the quantity and quality of books of Vietnamese publishers have not met the increasingly high requirements of the international market; currently exported books only reach small, retail orders (focusing on the markets of Laos, Japan, the US, Australia...). The total number of exported publications reached 14,867 titles with more than 1 million copies of books and discs of all kinds; the export turnover reached more than 260,000 USD. The exported publications are mainly books introducing and promoting the country and people of Vietnam.

Although the publishing market is increasingly diverse in types such as: printed books, e-books, audiobooks, podcasts, 3D books, AR books..., in Vietnam, traditional printed books still maintain a high proportion, accounting for 85% of the total number of imported books. However, electronic publishing, AI, chatbots, content summary websites (such as Blinkit, ChatGPT...) are becoming more and more popular and dominant, affecting the usage trends of customers, affecting the shift of the imported publishing business market, directly affecting the import of traditional printed books. On the other hand, the issue of importing electronic publications and transferring electronic publications without going through customs gates is also posing many legal problems for businesses.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xuat-nhap-khau-xuat-ban-pham-tai-viet-nam-con-khiem-ton-185251205232151974.htm